Finals

Before I get to my final pick for the NBA playoffs (although after chalking up an 0-2 in the last round maybe I should quit) this seems like a good time to discuss Billy Donovan's decision to leave Florida and then return, and why college coaches in general whether it be basketball or football feel the need to leave their successful college positions to go for the bright lights of the professional league.


First of all I was pretty shocked when I heard that Donovan wanted to renege on his commitment to Orlando. They had as good as a situation as one could dream. It was in central Florida where he coached the Gators so his family wouldn't have to move and the magic fans might give him some more leeway if he struggled out of the gate. They had one of the best young low post players in the game who hasn't even scratched the surface of his potential. They play in the inferior conference where despite a sub .500 record they made the playoffs. They have a mid range first round draft pick in a loaded draft class so they have the opportunity to get better. They have some cap space and this summer has the potential for a great free agent class. If that can't entice him enough to jump ship I don't think anything will.


So why did he leave in the first place? Why does Pete Carroll entertain the thought of leaving the best college football program in America (in the heart of Los Angeles no less) why did Spurrior, Pitino and many others decide to try the pro game? Well there's a couple of reasons.


1) Money. A man much wiser than me once said the answer to all your questions is money. (or something to that effect) In the case of Billy Donovan he was going to make a lot of money 27 million over five years. But leaving college for financial reasons is pretty low on the totem pole. Donovan is going to make a ton of money when he resigns his contract at Florida. It won't be the same amount as Orlando but my guess is it will be in the ball park. Also at Florida he has much better job security. So while money is a factor (If the money wasn't there no coach would leave college in my opinion) I just don't see it as being one of the deciding factors.


2) Notoriety. Again pretty low on the list of reasons. Most college coaches have all the fame and praise they could ever want but despite how big the college game is, the professional league is always bigger. That's just the nature of the beast.


3) Wanting to take on new challenges. This is the biggest reason why successful college coaches leave for the pros. In the case of Donovan he has already won two national championships and while sustaining excellence is a huge challenge it doesn't whet the appetite quite like achieving excellence in the pros. For Donovan and all college coaches that went on to coach in the pros, life is comfortable and the job is fun but like all human beings we seek new challenges. It's like when underclassmen declare for the draft (Oden and Durant for example) They both loved college but they both realized it's time to move on. To make themselves better they have to take on new challenges (In their case the money is also a much bigger issue.) I think Mike Vick put it perfectly when he declared for the NFL draft 6 years ago in 2001. He said he loved college and he wanted to stay but he had to leave. That's why I was shocked when Donovan decided to come back. I thought the allure of the new challenge would be too much to pass up. I guess he was unwilling to give up the comfort and security of Florida because once you leave and actually start coaching you can't ever go back to the way things were before. Pitino's now at Louisville, Spurrior's at South Carolina and so on.

Now on to my NBA finals pick. Even though the Spurs should thoroughly dominate I have to go with the Cavs because if LeBron makes the ultimate leap I want it in writing that I called it all along.